Hi, I am a dissertation student at the University of Leicester. I am currently collecting information on the crowd and spectator culture of Rugby League fans, in an attempt to explain why Rugby league seems to have less of a violent spectator identity than football. If you have a view on this matter I would greatly appreciate your time in answering my survey, it should take roughly 5-10 minutes to complete. Following the link below will take you to a Google forms page where more information will be given there. Please only partake if over 18. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PBq98H ... Q/viewform Thanks, Alex Lewis

Hi, I am a dissertation student at the University of Leicester. I am currently collecting information on the crowd and spectator culture of Rugby League fans, in an attempt to explain why Rugby league seems to have less of a violent spectator identity than football. If you have a view on this matter I would greatly appreciate your time in answering my survey, it should take roughly 5-10 minutes to complete. Following the link below will take you to a Google forms page where more information will be given there. Please only partake if over 18. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PBq98H ... Q/viewform Thanks, Alex Lewis

Done....

On a separate, but related theme; Has anyone seen the latest embarrassment happening at the South Leeds Stadium?

A group of 'fans' have set up their own little gang/fan club called 'The Garden Gate Ultras'... The Hunslet club had to produce a Fans Charter in response to their behaviour and offensive chanting at games last season and they've also had flares at games. These fans have even started selling 'Garden Gate Ultras' memorabilia with their slogan 'no pyro, no party' on.... Hahaha A couple of small time wannabe football hooligans trying to bring the 'ultra' football mentality to Hunslet....

Next they'll be getting a Smart car branded up to get them all to the game.... Hilarious...

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Done,

A big difference, in my opinion, is that you have more inter-city rivalries with larger numbers of disaffected young men in football as opposed to RL. Imagine if Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham or London had a large, successful RL team and turned up at Headingley on a Friday night with 5000 away fans, chances are there would be a lot more violence at RL games.

Our view of Hull (and its fans) as a club can be replicated 10 times over in football, with leeds being one of the biggest culprits. You just don't have that in RL. Not saying that violence doesn't happen in RL (some of the worst violence I have ever seen has come on the pitch at lower level RL), but it is also a numbers game, relatively speaking.

Pathetic. What next? arranged meets with rival 'crews' to see who is top dog? Worrying thing is that these people are fully grown adults with wives and children.

If the Garden Gate is anything like the night I went in last year they are fully grown grandparents & great grandparents. Me & my mate were the youngest in there by 40 years & we are both in our 50s.

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You appear to know a lot about 'The Garden Gate Ultras' considering a lot of the information above is only open to a private facebook group. Is there a spy in the camp i wonder.

You could not be more wrong about this group of fans when you say they are 'wannabee football hooligans'. They are a group of men, women and children who meet in the Garden Gate for social events and Hunslet games who's ages range between 7 and 70. Bradford, Batley and Leigh all said last season that we were the best supporters they had seen all season as well as being told we were the best support at the summer bash in Blackpool. At Leigh 30 of us sung for 80 minutes non stop despite a 72-6 thrashing after which every Leigh fan we saw shook hands with us congratulating us on our amazing support and asking 'do you bring song sheets' as we had so many songs. At no point in the season were fists thrown unlike at the Magic Weekend and Grand Final beer tent.


The group started at the beginning of last season when a few lads started sitting together at South Leeds and having a bit of a sing song and a beer at the back of the stand. Over the past season more and more people joined the group as they could see that it was a bit of fun, whilst getting behind the team despite the struggles on the pitch. There are now 50 + sit in the same section getting behind what is lets be honest a very poor team

There has been a few problems, mainly bad language in the Pheonix Bar after games. This was usually after your wonderful assistant coaches after match speech saying how well we played after our tenth/eleventh/twelfth etc defeat on the trot and how unlucky we were. The language is no worse than Headingley or anywhere else, but as the number of people at Hunslet games is so small, its magnified. The group approached the club to discuss these problems and a supporters code of conduct was introduced so that all parties knew the acceptable levels of behavior within the ground and punishments (ie 1 game ban) if they were not followed.

A smoke bomb (not a flare) was set off at Batley at the last game of the season. This was meant in high spirits and was only set off amongst the Hunslet supporters. The Batley supporters at the end of the game were shaking our hands and laughing with us about it saying its a shame we went down as we were a great set of supporters. However, Batley reported the incident and the group has since apologized and assured the club it will not happen again.

The group and other supporters now have regular meetings with the club as part of a fans panel to discuss ways of moving the club forward. They have all chipped in and sponsored a player this season. They had a xmas party while wearing xmas jumpers round all the pubs in Hunslet to help support local trade. Jimmy Watson is quoted as saying that he stayed because of the amazing support the club receive. Does this sound like a bunch of football hooligan wannabees to you ?

The T-Shirts etc are meant as a joke and to raise money towards away travel nothing more. You obviously know nothing about football hooligans if you think they wear cheap T-Shirts with catchy slogans printed on them.

Its easy to support a team that's winning everything but these people have stuck with this club through thick and thin and are trying to keep the proud name of Hunslet Hawks going during very difficult times. They travel home and away to watch a team that usually loses whilst having the identity ripped away from them due to the DR agreement with our fiercest rivals from across the river. But still they turn up week in week out to support their local team. They are no different to the South Stand support at Headingley, only that they are more passionate and there are fewer of them so they stand out a lot more. Oh and they don't need a poxy drum to make a noise either.

Without supporters like these, famous old clubs like Hunslet would die but i don't suppose that really bothers you in the all singing all dancing kingdom of Super League and Sky Sports does it.

If you want to see what the Ultras are really about then come down to the Lazenby tomorrow and then post your findings on here. You may have to eat humble pie. Mind, i don't suppose the Lazenby Cup is high enough profile for those gods of North Leeds anymore is it.


Always remember when you take your snide swipes at teams like Hunslet. History counts. AND THE HUNSLET WON ALL FOUR !

And as for your treble.... What took you so long, What took you so long, Been there and done that, What took you so long.

AND SO WE SHALL AGAIN.

I bet you felt great as you watched them lift each trophy that year.....oh wait.

You should be lucky we help you out to the extent we do. You're Welcome.

I don't know anything about the GG Ultras, but your defence of them as a supporters group with in the wider fan base not unlike the South Standers seems plausible enough, especially seeing as the Hunslet Club are happy for you to sponsor players. Enjoy your Rugby and the dreams of returning glory days

good post dango , apols re the trite responses

I saw pictures of your end of season bash with everyone holding up 4 fingers. I presumed it was just a genetic defect, thanks for clarifying it. Cracking pub mind. And a good post.

Agreed



Why are you apologising for other peoples responses? BTW my assumption is that you didn't find mine trite. But what did you find trite and why did you feel the eloquent rlfandango needed you to apologise for it? I reckon he'll fight his own corner if he feels the need.

Garden Gate supporters branch doing a mighty fine job. Full credit to them all.

Keep it going lads.

The ultimate aim is for us once again to support the top rugby league club in Leeds but sadly with the structure of Rugby League nowadays that wont ever happen unless one of us wins the Euromillions. I think a lot of the younger rhinos fans who have only ever been used to the success of recent years forget that we were playing at the same level as recently as 1988 and that there was actually Rugby before Sky and Super League.

I wont lie and say good luck for the new season because i really hope you get relegated

but thanks for the messages of support. We are just a group of fans doing what we do best, and thats supporting the Hunslet Hawks.

If any of you are making the trip to gods own side of the river tomorrow, you might just hear us in the top right hand corner, win lose or draw.

ALL HUNS ARENT WE !!

of course wasn't your response tom cat .
dango made his first ever post and received sarcasm back

made he doesn't want to fight when posting to defuse previous inflammatory statements

Oh please! He made a few light hearted digs at Leeds, he got a couple back. All harmless.

^^This

But I guess the Doc was just being hospitable

Keep up the good work with the ultras and that but I do hope you get relegated again.

I sense a lot of bitterness, something you always find from non Leeds supporters. It doesn't take long for a Hunslet fan (if you can find one), to tell you how much they hate Leeds. If seems their reason to exist, not to be happy in following their team, but to get red faced in anger about how well Leeds are doing. As for "fiercest rivals", grow up. A lot of young Leeds fans think Hunslet is where all the gypsies park their caravans, they don't even know they have a rugby team. What makes your 70 year old fans "Ultras" by the way, do they put some go faster stripes down the side of their mobility scooters?

I have to admit I agree with him about the drum. Other clubs manage to make a din without musical accompaniment so why do we need to clap/sing/rejoice to that infernal racket.